title: Carboplatin-based chemotherapy and surgery: a cost effective treatment strategy for malignant extracranial germ cell tumours in the developing world.
abstract: Nineteen children with malignant extracranial germ cell tumours (MEGCT), were treated at our institution with a combination of carboplatin-based chemotherapy and surgery from 1992 to 2008. Seventeen are long term survivors. Chemotherapy was administered on an outpatient basis and required no monitoring of GFR or auditory function. There were no deaths from toxicity or infection. Blood product use was low. Carboplatin-based therapy achieved excellent results in our patient population and constitutes more than a US $1,800 saving per patient compared to regimens containing cisplatin. This has application in resource limited settings.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Haematology Oncology Service, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. Marc.Hendricks@uct.ac.za
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hendricks
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: Komala
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pillay
authors.forename: Farieda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.forename: Alastair
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Millar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003906:Developing Countries; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000191:economics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016190:Carboplatin